Idaho City

The year was 1862. Gold had just been discovered in the Boise Basin. Drawn by the lure of instant wealth, prospectors poured into the area by the thousands. Towns sprang up everywhere, like mushrooms. The development of the State of Idaho was underway. Almost overnight, Idaho City became the largest town in the territory. It was a beehive of commercial activity. In its heyday the city boasted more than 250 businesses. Within three years of its founding, the city had surpassed Portland, Oregon, as the most populous in the Northwest. And no wonder. During the gold rush, more than $250,000,000 worth of the precious yellow metal was taken from the Boise Basin. Within a few years of the strike, the gold had become harder to find and more difficult to mine. With fortunes no longer to be made, the prospectors left in droves.

While the gold rush days are gone forever, much of the boom town flavor remains ready to be experienced during a fascinating, insightful walking tour of the area. During spring and summer, hikers will enjoy the many trails which allow glimpses of the abundant flora and fauna and sparkling streams. Equestrian trails present breathtaking vistas. Fishing, particularly for rainbow and brook trout, is especially good. There are ideal spots for camping and picnicking everywhere.

Fall and winter present the area in an entirely different light and permit a wide new range of activities: Hunters will find such quarry as elk, deer, and blue grouse plentiful. Snow blankets the Basin by Thanksgiving, signaling the start of winter sports. Just outside Idaho city are 15 cross-country trails criss-crossing the Basin. Skiers from novice to expert will have a field day. Nor are snowmobilers forgotten -- they can roam more than 150 miles of Forest Service roads. Snow campers and snowshoers will look forward to winter, too.